Norwich’s Historic Lutheran Churches
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The cornerstone for the first Lutheran Church, located at 169 Franklin Street in Norwich, was laid in 1869. It was known locally as the “German Lutheran Church” because worship services were conducted in German.
Twenty-five years later, in 1894, a second church, the Salem Lutheran Church, was built. It was known locally as the “Swedish Lutheran Church” because services were conducted in Swedish. The photo shows the Swedish Church on a snowy day in the early 1930s.
By the 1950s, several laypeople, encouraged by their pastors, began advocating for the merger of the German and Swedish congregations into a single, new place of worship.
On January 2, 1957, the First Evangelical Lutheran Church merged with Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church and became St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Click here to read a more complete account of history of Norwich’s Lutheran Churches.
*Place cursor over image to magnify.
Salem Lutheran Church ~ c1932
German Lutheran Church
East Main Methodist Episcopal Church
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The first worship service at the East Main Street Methodist Church was held in November 1834. The building was dedicated on June 17, 1835, with a sermon by Dr. Fisk of Wesleyan University. The building, in size and convenience, far surpassed the previous accommodations of the Falls Society Methodist church at Yantic Falls.
The church was conveniently located at the “Landing” next door to William A. Buckingham’s home on Main Street. The postcard image’s point of view is facing west, and the building shown to the right of the church is the site of the present-day Buckingham Memorial. However, William A. Buckingham was a member and deacon of the Second Congregational Church. He was not a Methodist.
Click here to read a more complete account of the history of Norwich’s East Main Methodist Episcopal Church.
*Place your cursor over the image to magnify
East Main Methodist Episcopal Church
First Methodist Church ~ Bean Hill
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The First Methodist Church on Bean Hill was erected in 1831. The Methodist Society was commonly called “Norwich North” and “Bean Hill” because of its location. From 1796 to 1831, the Methodists met at the former Bean Hill Academy. They were the first group of Methodists in Norwich.
The Methodist Society on Bean Hill held its public services in the venerable building for many years, which had served successively and alternately as a classical academy and a free school. In this extemporized chapel, many of the early noted itinerants preached in their rounds.
Reverend Jesse Lee, Reverend Asbury, and other messengers of the church proclaimed their message in this house of worship.
Click here to read a more complete account of the history of Norwich’s First Methodist Church.
1831 First Methodist Church Bean Hill
*Place your cursor over the image to magnify
Overview of Norwich’s Methodist Churches
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The first public Methodist sermon was preached in Norwich at the Bean Hill Academy in 1790. By 1831, the First Methodist Church on Bean Hill had been erected, and the congregations throughout Norwich began to flourish. Norwich’s last Methodist Church, located on Washington Street, closed on June 25 of this year.
As you can see on the artwork, Methodist Churches have served the entire Norwich community, from Bean Hill to Yantic Falls to Greeneville, and of course downtown. Over the past few months, IconicNorwich.org has explored the history of these churches and has created a series of articles that tell abbreviated stories of the buildings and the Methodist believers.
IconicNorwich.org is in the process of creating articles that explore other Norwich’s historic churches. Results will be posted here over the next month or so.
Click here to read a more complete account of the history of Norwich’s Overview of Norwich Historic Churches
Norwich’s Historic Methodist Churches
*Place your cursor over the image to magnify
Overview of Norwich’s Baptist Churches
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
In the late 1790s, it was considered an enormous crime merely to listen to a sermon by the so-called “Separatists” because their views were seen as subversive. Besides believing baptism was only for those old enough to choose the Christian faith consciously, Baptists insisted on the separation of church and state.
Yet, those following Baptist principles have survived, developed, and flourished in Norwich. Baptist churches have served residents in downtown, on Mount Pleasant, on the West Side, and in Greeneville for more than 200 years. IconicNorwich now offers overviews of the history of many local Baptist churches.
Overview of Norwich Baptist Churches
IconicNorwich.org is in the process of creating articles that explore more of Norwich’s historic churches. Results will be posted here over the next month or so. Click the link at the end of this sentence to read a more complete account of the history of Norwich’s other denominations.
*Place your cursor over the image to magnify
Overview of Norwich’s Jewish Organizations
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The history of Jewish residents in Norwich dates back more than 150 years. The first published account of a Jew living in Norwich was Adolph Chamansky. He migrated from Germany and established a business on Main Street in Norwich. He advertised his clothing store in the October 30, 1851, issue of the Norwich Evening Courier. Adolph, his wife Pauline, and his brother Joseph became the precursors of a vibrant Jewish community in Norwich.
As seen in the chart shown on the right, there have been many Jewish congregations, organizations, and synagogues. They include the Congregation of Norwich, the First Hebrew Society, the Congregation Brothers of Joseph, Beth Jacob Synagogue, and several others.
IconicNorwich.org provides a historical overview and electronic links to more detailed information for these organizations. Click the link below to get started.
Overview of Norwich’s Jewish Organizations
Over the past several months, IconicNorwich.org has created 39 articles that explore the development of many of Norwich’s historic churches. The articles include Congregational, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Jewish, and various others.
Click the link below to learn about Norwich’s Historic Churches.
*Place your cursor over the image to magnify
1833-Present: Greeneville Congregational Church
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The Fourth Congregational Ecclesiastical Society was organized in Greeneville with sixteen members on January 1, 1833. The Greek-Revival style church was the first institutional building in Greeneville.
Reverend John Storrs, the congregation’s first minister, was installed on March 12, 1834. Samuel Mowry, the father of Civil War-era Norwich gunmaker James D. Mowry, was one of the church’s first deacons, serving for over 33 years.
Due to its proximity to many manufacturing concerns, such as Campbell & Hall Paper Company and the Shetucket Company, residents of Greeneville frequently relocated from one town to another. However, the church membership remained surprisingly constant. When the town had 700 inhabitants, 100 were members of this church
Click the link below to learn more about the Greeneville Congregational Church.
Greeneville Congregational Church
Over the past several months, IconicNorwich.org has published 39 articles exploring the development of many of Norwich’s historic churches. The articles include Congregational, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Jewish, and various others.
Click HERE to learn about Norwich’s Historic Churches.
Greeneville Congregational Church
143 Prospect Street ~ built in 1834
1821-1907 Lucretia Hubbell ~ Adventurer
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
Lucretia Bradley Hubbell was a creative, imaginative woman who led a rich, full, and colorful life. The story of her, her husband Algernon S. Hubble, and her adopted daughter exemplifies how a bold Norwich couple in the late 1800s lived a unique, unconventional life. She spent the last 34 years of her life in Norwich as an advocate for community development, a medical practitioner, a patent medicine developer, a regional lecturer, and a mother. Before moving to Norwich, at age 34, Lucretia became the first woman in the United States to fly solo in a gas-filled balloon.
Click the link below to learn more about Lucretia Bradley Hubbell.
1854:Explosion of Miss Bradley’s Baloon
Marquis de Lafayette Visits Norwich
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
In 1824, as part of a nationwide tour of the United States, Revolutionary War hero General Marquis de Lafayette passed through Connecticut, making stops in twenty-six towns along the route. Although 50 years had passed since the close of the Revolutionary War, 66-year-old Lafayette, the last surviving major general of the conflict, was still revered by Americans and greeted by thousands of citizens hoping to catch a glimpse of the beloved war hero as he traveled through the state.
Click HERE to learn more about Lafayette’s visit to Norwich.
Click HERE to read about many other famous Norwich visitors.
Marquis de Lafayette in 1792: Age 35
Sidney Risley Pottery
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
In 1845 Sidney Risley established a small pottery in Thamesville near the bank of the Thames river, behind present-day 76 West Thames Street. Sometime before September 1845, Risley moved his pottery to 4 Cove Street at Chelsea Landing. The advertisement shown below appeared in the 1857 Norwich Directory.
Click HERE to learn more about Sidney Risley’s pottery.
Pither crafted by Sidney Risley